Boat Show Season

Depending on where you live determines how you celebrate the Christmas season as a boater. Some people go all out and decorate their boats in Christmas lights and throw boat parties and cap everything off with a parade. Those are the people that we envy this time of year because for most of us our boats are tucked away until spring commissioning.

So what can we do to keep boating at the top of our minds during this non boating season? That is the hard part; which is why there was such a thing called boat show season. This season starts the beginning of January and usually goes through March and it is when most of the major boat shows happen. What can you do to prepare for the upcoming boat show season? I would start by first finding all the shows that you would like to attend. You can do so by using this tool from Discover Boating. Mark those dates in your calendar and start getting excited.

One of the most important ways that you prepare for a boat show is to get your budget in order before you head out. You don’t want to be at a boat show and have that discussion with your significant other once you have fallen in love with a boat that is way out of your price range. Of course, you don’t have to buy a boat when you go to a boat show. But know what you want to spend whether it is $20 or $200,000.

Now that you are well on your way to enjoying boat show season you can keep boating at the front of your mind all throughout the off season. Leave us a comment letting us know which boat show you are most excited to attend.

Waxing Your Boat

Wax on, wax off. Wax on, wax off. No, we are not in a Karate Kid movie, even though that would be pretty cool. I am talking about waxing your boat. Waxing your boat is not something that you should just forget about. It is one of the easiest ways to keep you boat looking like it just left the showroom floor. It might be a little time consuming, but the payoff is worth it.

Why Wax

When we pick up our boat off the showroom floor, it has a bright mirror like shine that we can look into and see our smiling face looking back. That’s a great feeling right? Now, how do we keep our boat looking like that? Waxing! A boat that is used, which it hopefully yours is, is exposed to the elements, water from the lake, and other people. The Sun is one of the biggest reasons that our gel coat begins to fade. Waxing helps to restore the luster and shine of the boat surface, as well as making future cleaning easier. Waxing also helps to protect your boat from the damaging UV rays that can fade your paint job.

How To Wax

Waxing your boat is not as simple as just walking out to the dock and rubbing wax on the boat. There are a few steps to follow in order to be successful. The first one, clean your boat. Go out, rinse it off and get all the really dirty spots cleaned off. If you wax without cleaning, you will seal in all the dirt under the wax making it very difficult to get clean. After you finish giving your boat a bath, wipe off all the water spots for the same reason.

Now that she is clean, let’s get her sparkling clean. It is time to break out that wax. Specific directions vary by brand but generally, you will use a sponge or cloth to apply a layer of wax in a circular motion. You will want to let the wax sit until it “hardens.” Once it has that hazy look to it, (about 10-30 mins) you can wipe off the excess wax using a bath towel.

Once all the wax has been buffered off (What you did using the bath towel), make sure to go back and clean up any of the wax that might have gotten on any stainless steel or wood finishes on your boat. That’s it, you have just done your part to extend the life of your boat and keep her looking at her best. In order to get the full benefits of waxing, it is best to do the job 2-3 times during your boating season.

How Do You Spend Your Off Season?

As the weather is cooling off and the boats are tucked away for the time being. We are sitting and wondering now what? This time of year may not be a favorite among boaters but there are some things you can do now to make your next boating season a great one.

This time of year is perfect for doing all those little projects on your boat that you never got to over the summer. You know which ones I'm talking about. Upgrading your navigation system, doing those minor repairs to keep your boat running in like new condition, and doing all those checks to make sure that your equipment and all your boating accessories are working properly. Getting these little things, or maybe even a couple of big things, accomplished over the winter will give you more time in the spring to spend on the water.

Maybe you were growing tired of your boat last season. It could have been it was just getting older or your boat wasn't giving you what you were hoping to get out of. Whatever the reason, this time of year is actually a great time to research and buy a new boat. Take your time to do your research and find the perfect boat for you and your needs. Then during boat show season (Jan-March), you can make your purchase. You will never find a better price on a boat than at a boat show.

If neither of those fit your fancy for the off season, you can always take your boat and head south for the winter. There are places where the boating season never ends and boaters are always welcome. Whatever you choose to do with your off season, we will be there to help you.

Changing Your Spark Plugs

With today's modern fuel injection changing your spark plugs is few and far between, that day will come that you will need to know how to properly change a spark plug on your boat. That is where we come in. Here are some tips and tricks for changing your spark plugs.

Choose The Right Plug

A tad short or not the right heat range won't fly. Close enough will not work when installing spark plugs. The best way to figure out the right spark plug is to contact the manufacturer.

Using The Right Wrench

Spark plugs have a porcelain tip on them that is protected by a foam cover. Using a standard socket wrench could crack the porcelain. You will need a steady hand, socket extension and tight griping socket.

Using The Right Torque

Over tightening is one of the biggest mistakes. If you overtighten the spark plug when reinstalling it, your could strip the cylinder which would be costly to remove and have it re-threaded. The average torque wrench setting should be between 18-20 pounds per square inch. Make sure to check with the manufacturer before use.

Using The Right Gap

The gap is the distance the spark has to jump. If you have a gapless engine, then this is one step that you do not have to worry with. If your sparks need to be gapped, I would suggest investing in feeler gages. The gap setting can be found on the emissions plate of the engine or in the owner’s manual

Quick Tip: As you are changing your plug, check the others. Look for water droplets, aluminum bits, or a white substance on them. If you find any, take it to your dealer before you head out again.

Now that you know how to change your spark plugs, don't let the fear of what might go wrong stop you from enjoy a day relaxing on the water. If you are looking for some more tips on the subject, check these
out.

How To Keep Your Gear In Like New Condition

We love our watersport and hate when the boating season comes to an end and we can no longer spend every weekend enjoying our time on the water. How can we keep our gear looking like new year round? How you store your gear has a big impact on its lifespan. It really doesn't take much to keep your gear performing like new.

Your Wakeboard's edge is critical not only to how it performs, but how it ages. You don't want to stand it up in a corner on a hard surface. That is an easy way to crack the joint where the top and bottom of the board come together. If that happens, you board will come apart. Always place your board binding side down. You could even go one step further and entirely remove your bindings to dry separately from the board.

If you are anything like me, your rope gets pulled into the boat and laid on the floor in a heap after use. Make sure to take the time to coil the rope after each use being careful to loop it in 1-3 foot long sections. To make coiling easier, give your wrist a little half twist as you are coiling. It will make the rope want to wrap around itself.

After your adventure on the water, your wetsuit needs drying before it is stored. The proper way to do this is to lay it inside out on a flat surface out of direct sunlight. doing this will maintain the seams and material. Once it is dry, you can hand it up on a hanger like a normal suit. Better yet, find an actual suit hanger with broader shoulders to help hold the shape of the suite better.

The last piece of gear is your life vest. Did you know that drying your life vest in direct sunlight can actually break down the fibers in the vest drastically reducing its life span? You also do not want to just stick in a storage compartment to dry. Doing this will create some not so pleasant smells and mildew problems. The best way to dry your vest is letting it drip dry in a cool dry area making sure it is vertical to allow the water to drain from the bottom.

With these tips your gear will continue looking and acting like it did the day you bought it. Do you want to learn more about keeping our gear like new? Click here. Also, don't forget to leave a comment telling us your tricks to keeping your gear like new.

Do You Store Your Boat At Home?

It is the time of year that most boaters start to get a little depressed because the boating season is winding down. Winterization and storage options occupy our minds. There are my options for your winter storage needs ranging from having the boat here at the marina to storing it yourself at your house. If you choose to house your boat in your driveway, then you will need to know the basics for the use of a tarp. That is where we come in.

There are many reasons to store your boat at home, the biggest is convenience. You can work on your boat whenever you have a free moment. No need to spend time driving to and from and no more frustration if you left something at home. There are some challenges to storing your boat at home over the winter months. The first being how do you keep it out of the elements? A tarp.

Using a tarp can be tricking and here are a few tips to make it easier for you.

Sharp Edges

On your boat you have sharp edges that no matter how many times you’ve tried to cover your boat with a tarp they inevitably rip the tarp. How do you prevent it? When you are covering your boat, first put old pieces of carpet or rags over the sharp edges and secure them with duct tape. The carpet rounds the edges which will protect your tarp.

Securing the Tarp

The best way to secure your tarp would be to wrap the bungee cords around the bottom of your boat. Doing that would make it very difficult to get in and work on your boat during the off season. The easiest way would be to fill a few milk jugs with rocks and water and tie them with rope to a few points of the tarp to hold it in place. When you want to get in the boat, you just need to undo a few jugs and not have to worry about exposing the hole boat.

Tarp Support

You will need to support your tarp at its low points or it will collect water which could completely compromise the tarp. The easiest way to do this would be to place a step ladder on the deck of your boat to keep the tarp supported.

You now have the knowledge to better prepare your boat for winter storage at your home. Just remember to get proper ventilation under the tarp otherwise; you could end up having a mildew problem on your hands. Would you like more information on tarp tactics? Click here.

What Makes a Ski/Wakeboarding Boat?

We know what a boat is, and we know that there are many different styles of boats. Do you know what makes a regular power boat a ski/wakeboard boat? We will go over what extras make a regular power boat a ski/wakeboarding boat.

Ski/Wakeboard boats have an inboard propulsion motors which deliver power to the rider on the water. That power translates into speed that the can be used to make tricks and land jumps. Even though ski boats and wakeboard boats look similar, the riders have opposing goals that they require from their boats.

As a waterskier, you want acceleration and as little wake as possible. What gives the skier the ride they are looking for, is what goes on underneath the water. The shape of the hull and the placement and configuration of the engine, drive shaft and propellers is what cause the inboard ski boats to have very little wake.

A wakeboarder on the other hand wants as big a wake as possible as while you cross from right to left following behind the boat. How do they get the big wake? The wide, deep hull and the V-drive engines set close to the transom allow the boat to carve steep wakes.

You can turn any power boat into a ski/wakeboarding boat, but you can also get the most out of your watersport experience by having a boat that was built just for your specific enjoyment. Now we want to know. What tows you on the water?